Hi,
Finally worked out how to register after many hours of head scratching an feeling silly.
Just a couple of questions really, no doubt asked a million times.
Im new to this so kind of wondering where to start with the whole home brew. Initially id like to make a Lager (as thats normally what i drink out of bottles) and then once ive got that down id like to move on to something like a stout (as when out and about i drink guinness)
If i get a starter kit will I be able to replicate the normal lager that you buy? im not looking to make anything uber, just a crisp lager thats palatable, im not expecting it to be nectar from the gods on the first go ^^
I know the starter kits come with the brewing bucket an a few other bits, is there anything else that i should splash out on as well as the kit in order to have success?
And finally if i do get a starter kit will i eventually be able to make stout in it or will i need to buy a different kit to do that?
Hope that wasnt to vague. Thanks in advance
Randomdave
Looking to start
-
verno
randomdave,
I have recently embarked on something similar bar the stout piece, so I might be able to help. Basically I bought the standard bucket, bottles etc from a shop and a castlemaine gold kit. I brewed this using standard table sugar as I wanted to give myself a baseline. The kit is pretty good, it doesn't taste like professionals but it is drinkable and is ok for a first go.
I am now in my second batch which is a Coopers Pilsner. Coopers are supposed to be pretty good. For this one I have used some malt extract and some brewing sugar. The malt will give it more depth and flavour. I am currently mid fermentation but hope that the improvement is good. As a next step I would potentially add hops.
So in terms of advise I guess you can go down one of those roots, but basically with a bucket, some bottles, a steriliser, a hydrometer, a paddle and something to transfer the beer into the bottles (eg syphon) then I think you will have a pretty decent start.
My aim is to then refine the beer via yeast/hops/malt extract to get to my preferred taste.
Sadly I can't comment on the stout but would have thought the same equipment is fine, the kit and fermentation timeframe might change?
Verno
I have recently embarked on something similar bar the stout piece, so I might be able to help. Basically I bought the standard bucket, bottles etc from a shop and a castlemaine gold kit. I brewed this using standard table sugar as I wanted to give myself a baseline. The kit is pretty good, it doesn't taste like professionals but it is drinkable and is ok for a first go.
I am now in my second batch which is a Coopers Pilsner. Coopers are supposed to be pretty good. For this one I have used some malt extract and some brewing sugar. The malt will give it more depth and flavour. I am currently mid fermentation but hope that the improvement is good. As a next step I would potentially add hops.
So in terms of advise I guess you can go down one of those roots, but basically with a bucket, some bottles, a steriliser, a hydrometer, a paddle and something to transfer the beer into the bottles (eg syphon) then I think you will have a pretty decent start.
My aim is to then refine the beer via yeast/hops/malt extract to get to my preferred taste.
Sadly I can't comment on the stout but would have thought the same equipment is fine, the kit and fermentation timeframe might change?
Verno
-
Madbrewer
Not done kits for a while so forgive me if I am a little out of date. I also expect you've seen these directions by now? http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/kits.htm
Glass bottles is what you want to use to serve your beer out of as they will be an economical way to obtain something to serve them in (Plastic Barrels don't tend to do to the carbonation levels lager drinkers are used to.)
The brew packs 40 pint Special Lager kit looks like a 3 kilo kit. I recall the 3kg kits being better because you don't have to add sugar, (Adding sugar thins the beer somewhat though the lighter kits rely on sugar to get the alchohol the 3 kilo ones don't).
You'll need this, a fermenting bin, some bottles (ask your pub landlord to keep some magners for you these will withstand the amount of conditioning pressure), bottle capper, syphon hose and inline tap (makes bottling easier) something to sterilise with (Bleach?) large plastic spoon.
I would also recommend a thermometer and a hydrometer. Some Home brew shops offer a deal which consists of many of these items but not all.
FWIW although you are better off with 3kilo kits as you are going to chill the lager before drinking it - you'll probably 'get on' ok taste wise with the 1.5 kilo ones too. Just as a generalisation with kits though usually the cheaper they are, the cheaper they taste. I know I did a few czech and autralian ones that were quite well received.
Glass bottles is what you want to use to serve your beer out of as they will be an economical way to obtain something to serve them in (Plastic Barrels don't tend to do to the carbonation levels lager drinkers are used to.)
The brew packs 40 pint Special Lager kit looks like a 3 kilo kit. I recall the 3kg kits being better because you don't have to add sugar, (Adding sugar thins the beer somewhat though the lighter kits rely on sugar to get the alchohol the 3 kilo ones don't).
You'll need this, a fermenting bin, some bottles (ask your pub landlord to keep some magners for you these will withstand the amount of conditioning pressure), bottle capper, syphon hose and inline tap (makes bottling easier) something to sterilise with (Bleach?) large plastic spoon.
I would also recommend a thermometer and a hydrometer. Some Home brew shops offer a deal which consists of many of these items but not all.
FWIW although you are better off with 3kilo kits as you are going to chill the lager before drinking it - you'll probably 'get on' ok taste wise with the 1.5 kilo ones too. Just as a generalisation with kits though usually the cheaper they are, the cheaper they taste. I know I did a few czech and autralian ones that were quite well received.
-
fivetide
Hi randomdave.
You will need a fermenting bucket, a paddle, a thermometer, a hydrometer, a siphon or some tubing that can be used as a siphon, some cheap unperfumed soda crystals for cleaning, some sort of sanitiser (usually thin liquid or powder solution bleach to start off with), a kettle, water (treat this with half a camden tablet, available from any homebrew shop, if possible), a pyrex jug, and a beer kit. Other handy things to have are some spare sachets of brewers yeast (lager and ale I guess, in your case) and perhaps an airlock. Finally you will need a pressure barrel and/or some bottles (glass with a capper, swingtop, or plastic soda bottles). Kits that are pure malt come in two big cans. Cheaper (generally) kits come in one can and you'll find the instructions ask you to add bulk with sugar (use glucose which is brewers sugar, or spraymalt, another bag of powder available at homebrew shops).
Once you've got this lot assembled, cleaned and sanitised, you're on your way. The whole process of making up a kit won't take you more than an hour after some initial preparation.
For some invaluable help, check out this guide here.
And maybe on your next kit, this one.
Good luck - plenty of help available on this forum - search about
You will need a fermenting bucket, a paddle, a thermometer, a hydrometer, a siphon or some tubing that can be used as a siphon, some cheap unperfumed soda crystals for cleaning, some sort of sanitiser (usually thin liquid or powder solution bleach to start off with), a kettle, water (treat this with half a camden tablet, available from any homebrew shop, if possible), a pyrex jug, and a beer kit. Other handy things to have are some spare sachets of brewers yeast (lager and ale I guess, in your case) and perhaps an airlock. Finally you will need a pressure barrel and/or some bottles (glass with a capper, swingtop, or plastic soda bottles). Kits that are pure malt come in two big cans. Cheaper (generally) kits come in one can and you'll find the instructions ask you to add bulk with sugar (use glucose which is brewers sugar, or spraymalt, another bag of powder available at homebrew shops).
Once you've got this lot assembled, cleaned and sanitised, you're on your way. The whole process of making up a kit won't take you more than an hour after some initial preparation.
For some invaluable help, check out this guide here.
And maybe on your next kit, this one.
Good luck - plenty of help available on this forum - search about
-
sparky Paul
I can't add much else over what has been said above, only that if you are looking to produce something comparable to a commercial-type beer, lagers are often the hardest to get right in kit form.
There are some good tips regarding kit lagers in the many lager related threads in this section, such as this recent one...
viewtopic.php?t=16266
Personally, as you like stouts too, I would perhaps suggest trying a stout kit first. In my experience, stouts are the most reliable kits to do, and excellent beer can be made without resorting to any tweaking. Most of the 3Kg stout kits are very good, and also the Cooper's Stout kit is excellent when made up with 1Kg of Medium or Dark Spraymalt. I can't remember anyone being disappointed by the Cooper's.
There are some good tips regarding kit lagers in the many lager related threads in this section, such as this recent one...
viewtopic.php?t=16266
Personally, as you like stouts too, I would perhaps suggest trying a stout kit first. In my experience, stouts are the most reliable kits to do, and excellent beer can be made without resorting to any tweaking. Most of the 3Kg stout kits are very good, and also the Cooper's Stout kit is excellent when made up with 1Kg of Medium or Dark Spraymalt. I can't remember anyone being disappointed by the Cooper's.
-
gullarm
I got a load of bottles from work mates, asked around who drank 400ml and over bottles and got loads of them. 330's are too small, but have used them in the past.
Get them in now, every one is recyling so they are hanging around the house.
Plus everytime I went to bargain booze bought bottles instead of cans, may have cost a bit more than the tinnies but they are 100% re usuable. Even reused the caps 3-4 times as well but its a bit hit and miss.
I havent actually been to bargain booze for 3 months and that was to get a bottle of wine.
Get them in now, every one is recyling so they are hanging around the house.
Plus everytime I went to bargain booze bought bottles instead of cans, may have cost a bit more than the tinnies but they are 100% re usuable. Even reused the caps 3-4 times as well but its a bit hit and miss.
I havent actually been to bargain booze for 3 months and that was to get a bottle of wine.
-
randomdave
-
verno
-
randomdave
-
gullarm
-
randomdave
